The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-05-21
WORDS THAT BURN LIKE
FIRE AND BLAZE LIKE
AN ELECTRIC LIGHT
FROM A WELL KNOWN
BUSINESS MAN OF DIAL.
LAS.
Law, Logic, craftsmanship
and Common Sense Keen
as Il Damascus Blade.

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tons that the people petitioned
and the Legislature of the State
has submitted an amendment to
the constitution, prohibiting the
"manufacture, sale or exchange of
Intoxicating liquors in the State"
except for certain uses. To petition
the law-making power is demo.
cratic, and to submit the law for
popular approval at.the ballot box
is eminently democratic. The ques-
ton submitted is practically this
Does Intoxicating liquor cause
more evil than good in Texas9 If
it effects more good, the people
will vote against the amendment,
if more evil they will vote for the
amendment, and thus be true to
the great democratic doctrine of
"the greatest good to the greatest
number"
The anti-prohibition advocates
dare not discuss the moral aspect
of the question, and are using all
their ingenuity to direct the pub
lie mind away from the good and
evil involved, and are attempting
\to arouse an apprehension that all
"personal liberty" will be endang-
cred, should the amendment be
adopted by a majority vote of the
people. The personal liberty to
manufacture and sell intoxicating
liquor on every street corner is
certainly endangered by this
amendment, and the liberty to
drink when and where one pleases
is only incidentally involved. To
this extent the amendment reach
es outside of the limitations
specifically named in it, and we
challenge anyone to show other
encroachments, direct or indirect,
ON personal liberty contained
therein. .,
When the exercise of personal lib
crty in any form becomes offensive to
the free people of these United States,
or of any one of them, or of any To-
cality, they have q perfect right to dis
cuss the matter in all its bearings, So
cial, moral, political, financial, and de-
tcrmined in a legitimate way what is
for the best interest Of the commune
ty involved and offended. If the COM
munlty decide that the exercise of the
personal liberty under consideration,
must be restrained, for the general
good, the aggrieved party has his rem
edy, through an appeal to the courts,
which will decide whether or not any
inalienable right has been assailed.
The Hon. Roger @. Mills has well
said ON this very point as follows:
"We conceive that whenever it is
deemed expedient for the general
good that q law should be enacted,
even though it should operate to the
disadvantage to some, it is not incon-
sistent with the spirit OF law"
Silence the law which restraints a
man from doing mischief TO his fellow
man, though it diminishes the natural,
it increases the civil liberty of man
kind"
Wherever civil liberty is most per-
iect the highest type of civilization is
seen, but wherever unrestrained per-
sonal liberty is the rule anarchy, dis
cord and savagery make up the history
of such people. In arriving at what
Is for the best interest ola community,
questions must be investigated not
only from the standpoint OF individu-
al right, but their moral aspect must
have due consideration also. Who of
all our citizens are more competent to
discuss aud determie the morality in
yolved in any question, than those
whose lives and intcllects are devoted
10 the study ofmoral and social duties.
On this point Senator Coke alter eau
tioning ministers not TO interfere in
affairs of State said in fairness and
wisdom.
"These same men and women, fresh from
the ministrations Of the church, ennobled
and purified. create that public opinion
which makes and executes good laws and
maintains good government, which exacts
abgher standard Of citizenship, OF morality
and of excellence. This public opinion
stands behind the juror in the box and
nerves him for his duty; IL bids the judge
on the bench be faithful and true II goes
with your legislators 10 Austin and WASH
ingtof. and il a monitor which never sleeps
or Tires, counseling fidelity to trust and de-
yotion TO duty. The creation ofpublic opin-
ION by marshalling all the moral forces ofthe
community, and directing them to accom-
plishment Of good andfhe higher purposes of
government, OF society, and OF civilization,
"a the Joint work Of the church and the
school in their own proper sphere" i
The financial disturbance which
may follow any radical change in the
revenue laws of a State always chal-
lenge the careful consideration OF
those prudent citizens who weigh the
argument of ia loss in revenue"